Risen Star Division 1 Grade 2
- Digital- Hernandez Jr./Calhoun
- Digital is only coming out of optional claiming races. However, he just lost to Blackberry Wine last time out and earned a 92 beyer. I think the distance will be fine for him but the post is the thing that will cost him. Due to the post position I will be looking elsewhere.
- Silver State- Santana Jr./Asmussen
- I had Silver State in his last prep in which I also did a preview of for the website. He ran a strong second in the LeComte last time out and lost to Enforceable who I wasn’t too high on in the LeComte but ended up proving me wrong and impressing me while doing it. Silver State will love the added distance and will be my top pick once again.
- Ready to Roll- G. Saez/ Calhoun
- Ready to Roll might be the rabbit for Digital in this race as they are for the same trainer. However, I think Digital will still need more than that to run into. Ready to Roll won impressively last time out in the slop, but hasn’t really done anything else in his career. This is his first time facing winners and this jump up in class is something I never play or recommend playing unless the horse was a freak of nature, which I just don’t think Ready to Roll is.
- Perfect Revenge- Bridgmohan/Joseph Jr.
- Saffie has been one of the hottest trainers in the country since his big Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby win in September. Today he ships to Fair Grounds with Perfect Revenge which, he hopes to give him a ticket to the Derby. However, I don’t think this is the one. I think Perfect Revenge is a good and talented horse, just not a graded stakes horse yet.
- Moon Over Miami- Alvarado/Mott
- Bill Mott ships in from Florida but he shipped in from New York before that. I think the last race actually showed a lot from him. However, Alvarado has guided him to his only win which came in New York. I don’t think he has enough to win today, but Alvarado reconnecting with Moon Over Miami might get the best out of him today.
- Shashashakemeup- Graham/Desormeaux
- Shashashakemeup is the most interesting name in the field and should be the pace of the race or at least one of them. I think he is more of a sprinter and the connections are just taking a shot. He could go gate to wire but I think there is enough pressure around him on the backstretch that he ends up folding.
- Blackberry Wine- Beschizza/Sharp
- Blackberry Wine is for connections under sharp scrutiny right now after Joe Sharp had a good bunch of his winning horses come back positive for banned drugs post race. However, he has been winning as of late even after the DQs. This colt is very nice and should be on the lead early. He seems to be game in each start as well which is beneficial for a pace horse especially this young. He hasn’t faced stakes competition yet but I like him today and hopefully everything goes by the book today. Don’t like when talented horses are wasted due to banned substances or injuries.
- Enforceable- Leparoux/Casse
- Enforceable proved me wrong last time out in the LeComte and impressed me while doing it. Mark Casse has a very talented colt on his hands. He is on the Lousianna version of the Kentucky Derby trail right now and already completed the first phase in winning fashion. He is coming into this race off of a career effort which is key in these young colts’ careers. I like him a lot today especially with all the potential pace that is lined up today that should collapse down the stretch.
- Mr. Monomoy- Geroux/Cox
- Mr. Monomoy is one of the most overhyped horses on the Derby trail currently to me. Yes he is talented and very game but in my eyes he wants absolutely nothing to do with this distance at all or anywhere more than 7F. Due to his probable distance restraints I will look elsewhere.
- Farmington Road- Castellano/Pletcher
- Pletcher always has a prospect in each Derby Prep. This Tampa Bay shipper on paper looks outclassed by a ton. Moon Over Miami has beaten him before and that worries me. However, Pletcher could of put this horse in the OC race that he put Gouverneur Morris in yesterday in which Gouverneur Morris showed a lot and put on a big effort to win. I am surprised that these roles weren’t reversed but I assume Gouverneur Morris is pointing for the Tampa Bay Derby. Maybe Pletcher has a talented colt in this one but I won’t use him today because I can’t trust that he does until i see him beat winners.
- Scabbard- Rosario/Kenneally
- Good old Scabbard or Noose or whatever he is called at post time. Scabbard is a horse who has been involved in every prep since the Saratoga Special. He didn’t show too much in the LeComte but that was off of a layoff since Breeders Cup weekend. 2nd time over the track, added distance, and 2nd off the layoff, should have him ready to roll. However, I despise the post but do enjoy Joel Rosario shipping in to ride. Should be live.
TOP PICKS
#2 Silver State
#8 Enforceable
#11 Scabbard
Wild Card pick
#5 Moon Over Miami